Here’s the list of semifinalists to be the next Manatee County school superintendent

Jason Dill
Updated ·2 min read

The search for the next Manatee County School Superintendent is nearing its conclusion.

The district announced a list of semifinalists on Wednesday. Finalists are expected to be announced April 28, with the next superintendent chosen in May with a tentative July 1 start date.

Cynthia Saunders is retiring from the superintendent position at the end of the June.

School board members and Florida School Boards Association representatives determined the following candidates as semifinalists for the superintendent role:

  • Scott Schneider, current chief of schools for Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville

  • Michael Scott Flowers, current chief of staff for the Osceola County School District in Kissimmee

  • Dr. Ann Hembrook, current area superintendent for Marion County Schools in Ocala

  • Dr. Kim D. Moore, current assistant superintendent for Pasco County Schools in Land O’Lakes

  • Dr. Benjamin Henry, current regional superintendent for the Polk County School District in Bartow

  • Ernie Lozano, current executive director of behavioral threat assessments for Broward County Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale

  • Dr. Jason C. Wysong, current deputy superintendent for Seminole County Public Schools in Sanford

  • Dr. Richard J. O’Malley, current superintendent for Florence One Schools in Florence, South Carolina

  • Dr. Scott A. Davidheiser, current superintendent for Lower Moreland Township School District in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

  • Doug Wagner, current deputy superintendent of operations for the Manatee County School District

  • Charlie Van Zant, former superintendent for the Clay County School District in Green Cove Springs

  • Tim Bargeron, current chief finance officer for the Seminole County School District in Sanford

The FSBA is collecting additional information about the semifinalists to distribute to school board members on April 21, a news release said.

A school board workshop is slated for April 28 at the Miller School Support Center in Bradenton, where finalists will get chosen.

From there, out of the area finalists are scheduled to arrive in Manatee County on May 9, with interviews to follow May 10 and 11.

A special board meeting is scheduled for May 16 to choose the next Manatee County school superintendent. The May 23 school board meeting is set to approve the contract for the superintendent and a transition period between the outgoing Saunders and the new superintendent is slated for May 24.